Bottle stopper



BOTTLE STOPPER Filed Aug. ll, 1934 'will mlm 28 'l Hm."

INVENTOR RNEY Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My present invention relates to bottle stoppers and more particularly to a type of bottle stopper, which is fixed in position within the neck of a bottle in order to make the bottle nonrellable. The stopper, constructed in accordance with the invention, permits the contents of the bottle to be readily poured therefrom and is adapted to prevent the refilling of the bottle, under pressure, by vacuum, or elsewise, with liquid 10 of the same or of a different nature, if such an attempt be m-ade.

. The primary object of my invention is to provide a bottle stopper, which will effectively seal the bottle in which it is located, so that the same cannot be refilled under any conditions.

A further object is to construct an article of this nature in Which the channels, adjacent the neck ofthe bottle, at the sides of the head of the stopper are zigzag in shape in order to prevent external tampering with the stopper.

Another object is to provide a series of vertical passageways or channels in the neckV of the bottle, that will permit a flow of the liquid contents from the bottle, either alone or in cooperation with channels provided for this purpose in the head of the stopper.

. A still further object of the invention is to provide an integral base member of -a gripping material, such as cork, which forms a valve chamber with, and acts as a holding element for, the shank of the head, or top, of the stopper. The exterior surface of this member, also, serves as a retaining sleeve by means of which the stopper is rmly maintained in the neck of the bottle.

Another object of the invention is to employ a flexible Washer, between the valve element provided in the stopper and the seat for the same, which washer normally supports the valve 4 element above its seat, and acts as a compressible wedge between the valve element and seat to effectively close the stopper, if any attempt is made to reiill the bottle.

My invention further includes other objects,

advantages and novel features of design, construction and arrangement, hereinafter more particularly referred to in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the same in its preferred form.

y Referring to the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a bottle stopper constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical section of the bottle stopper, as .shownin Fig. 1.

(Cl. 21E- 26) Fig. 3 is an elevation in partial section indicating the position of a stopper in the neck of a bottle.

Fig. 4 is a detail bottom plan view showing the interior of the shank and head of the stopper.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the base element of the stopper.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the element shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a partial central vertical section of 1o a modification of the valve construction employed in the present inventive disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the flexible washer member as shown in Figs. 2 and '7.

Fig. 9 is a detail elevation of the cup shaped l5 member, such as employed in Fig. 2.

Fig. l0 is a detail elevation of the closure element.

Fig. 11 is a central longitudinal cross section of a modification of the invention indicating the detailed parts shown in Figs. 8 and 9, as embodied in a single unit, and

Fig. 12 is a top plan view showing the position of the head of the bottle stopper in the neck of the bottle.

With particular reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, 25 the invention provides for a bottle stopper having a body member I5, which is preferably constructed of a material such as porcelain. A base member I6 of cork, or a similar substance, is employed in connection therewith to firmly maintain the stopper in position Within the bottle neck. Body member l5 includes a head portion Il and a shank portion I8, integral therewith, the shank portion being of smaller internal diameter than the head. The shank of the body member is hollowed out to provide a passageway for the liquid contents of the bottle through the stopper. A number of channels, indicated at I9 in Fig. 4, extend upwardly from the shank passageway and project into the head of the body member, the same providing vents in the circumferential surface of the head as shown at 20. The head of the body member is also con- Structed to include a plurality of zigzag channels 4- about its periphery as indicated in the drawing at 2l. The vertices of these channels 2| lie adjacent the unchannelled portions of the bottle neck. These channels provide a passageway, adjacent the bottle neck, for the liquid contents of the bottle issuing from the circumferentially located vents in the head of the stopper. A'series of circumferentially spaced lugs 22 are provided between the channels 2| in the head in order to maintain the same in a central position Within 55 the neck of the bottle, the same forming a peripheral rim which fits snugly against the interior wall of the bottle neck. A ange 23 on the head determines the limiting position of the base member with respect to the same.

The base member i6 exteriorly forms a sleeve, which grips the bottle neck, and interiorly performs the same function with respect to the shank I8 of the body member. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the base member is unitarily constructed to include a bottom 24 which defines a port centrally located within the same as indicated at 25. The stopper, constructed in accordance with the present invention, also, provides means for closing communication therethrough. This means, in part, is indicated in the form of a tapering cup shaped seat 26, as shown in Fig. 9, which is located in the opening provided by the port in the bottom of the base member. The seat is preferably constructed of a stainless metallic material and includes a flange 21 in its upper surface, which rests upon the interior bottom of the base member I6. A flexible washer 28, as indicated in the drawing, in Fig.` 8, is located above the seat 26, (refer Fig. 2) upon which is positioned a closure element 29 in the preferable shape of a ball. The closure element of the valve is shown in the drawing in Fig. 10. The washer 28 is interposed between the closure 29 and seat 26. The closure element is` contained within the shank I8 of the body member. A washer 36, is adapted to abut the undersurface of the shank and to thereby retain the washer 28 and seat 26 in their proper centered position within the base member. The flexible washer 28 normally maintains the closure element above its cup shaped seat, the closure 29 by gravity moving toward the head of the body member to permit the liquid in the bottle to readily ow out of the same when the bottle is in a tilted position.

` In the event that an attempt be made to refill the bottle from the outside, the pressure utilized forces the closure element, with the iiexible Washer therebetween, upon its seat, as clearly indicated by the dotted position of the closure 29, in Fig. 2. The washer 28 forms a compressible means for wedgingly positioning the closure element upon its seat, sothat it will successfully close the port and resist any attempt to rei-lll thebottle. The flexible washer has a smaller diameter than the seat for the closure element so that the washer will be pressed against the seat by the closure when an attempt is made to refill the bottle.

Referring particularly to Fig. ll, a modification of the arrangement of p-arts, constituting the iiexible washer and valve seat, is illustrated, in which the cup shaped seat member is constructed to include a U iiange as indicated at 3B. The flexible washer is indicated in this instance at 3|.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and l2, the bottle stopper herein described is indicated in position for use in the neck of a bottle. The bottle neck, indicated in the drawing at 32, has a plurality of spaced vertical internal channels 33, which extend downwardly to a position adjacent the circumferential vents 20 in the head of the stopper. The lugs 221, on the stopper located intermediate of the zigzag channels 2l about the periphery of the head of the stopper, are preferably positioned adjacent the channeled portions of the bottle neck, as clearly indicated in Fig. 12 of the drawing. 'I'he zigzag channels 2| are located adjacent the unch-anneled portions of thebottle neck.

In the modification of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 7, I provide a ring washer member, as indicated at 34, to form the valve seat. The seat, in this instance, is the internal circumferential tapering surface indicated at 35, in the drawing. The compressible w-asher 30 is interposed between the closure and its seat for wedgingly positioning the same thereon in the event any attempt is made to refill the bottle by pressure.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to limit myself to the specific form illustrated, but may alter the construction and arrangement of parts as occasion requires without enlarging the scope of my invention or departing from the spirit thereof as contained in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bottle stopper, a body member having a vented head adapted to fit within the neck of the bottle, a base member therefor, valve means for closing communication therethrough including a closure element within the body member, a seat for the closure in the bottom of the base member, and means interposed between the closure and its seat for wedgingly positioning the same thereon.

2. In a bottle stopper, a body member having a circumferentially vented head adapted to fit within the neck of the bottle, a base member therefor, valve means for closing communication therethrough including a closure element within the body member, a tapering cup shaped seat for the closure at the bottom of the base member, and compressible means between the closure and its seat for wedgingly positioning the same thereon.

3. In a bottle stopper, a body member having a circumferentially vented head adapted to fit within the neck of the bottle, a base member therefor, valve means for closing communication therethrough including a closure element within the body member, a seat for the closure element at the bottom of the base member in the form of a washer having a. circumferentially tapering inner surface, and compressible means between the closure and its seat for wedgingly positioning the same thereon.

4. In a bottle stopper, a body member' having a vented head adapted to lit within the neck of the bottle, and including an integral hollow shank of smaller diameter extending therefrom', a plurality of zigzag channels located about the periphery of the head, adjacent the bottle neck, to provide a passageway for the liquid contents of the bottle, a cork base member located upon the shank, a closure element located within the shank,v a seat for the closure element in the bottom of the cork base member, and compressible means between the closure element and its seat for wedgingly positioning the same thereon.

5. In a bottle stopper, a body member having a Vented head adapted to fit within the neck of the bottle, and including an integral hollow shank of smaller diameter extending therefrom, a plurality of zigzag channels located about the periphery of the head, adjacent the bottle neck, to provide a passageway for the liquid contents `of the bottle, a cork base member located upon the shank, and Valve means within the shank of the head and base member for closing communication through thev stopper.

6. In a bottle stopper having valve means for closing communication therethrough, a body member having a solid head adapted to iit Within the neck of the bottle, and including an integral hollow shank of smaller diameter extending therefrom, a unitary cork base member located upon the shank, the bottom of the base member having a central valve port therein.

'7. In a bottle stopper, a bottle member having a vented head adapted to fit within the neck of the bottle, a base member therefor, valve means for closing communication therethrough including a closure element within the body mem'- ber, a seat for the closure element in the bottom of the base member, a separate flexible member interposed between the closure and its seat normally supporting the closure in spaced relationship above its seat.

8. In a bottle stopper having valve means for closing communication therethrough, a closure element, a seat for the closure element, a separate ilexible member interposed between the seat and closure, said flexible member, having a. port therein of smaller interior diameter than that of the seat, being adapted to normally support the closure in spaced relationship above its seat.

9. In a bottle stopper, a body member having a solid head adapted to t within the neck of the bottle, said head having a plurality of zigzag channels located about its periphery to provide passageways adjacent the internal wall of the bottle neck for the liquid contents of the bottle,

the peripheral rim of the head, between the channeled portions of the same, snugly fitting against the internal wall of the bottle neck, a base member connecting the lower portion of the head, and valve means within the base member for closing communication through the stopper.

10. The combination of a bottle neck having internal vertical channels therein and a stopper in the neck of the bottle having a body member with a solid head, said head having a plurality of zigzag channels located about the periphery of the same, the vertices being adjacent the unchanneled portions of the bottle neck, the channels in both the stopper and the bottle neck providing passageways for the ow of liquid out of the bottle, and means for closing communication to the stopper.

GIUSEPPE F. PINSU'TI. 

